Exerciser



Nov. 9, 1965 E. A` BENDIX, JR 3,216,259

EXERGISER Filed July 11. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wengen:

ATTORNEYS NOV 9, 1955 E. A. BENDxx, JR

EXERCISER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July ll. 1963 United States Patent O 3,216,259 EXERCISER Edward A. Bendix, Jr., 231 S. 60th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed July 11, 1963, Ser. No. 294,295 1 Claim. (Cl. 73-380) The present invention relates to exercisers and more particularly to finger, thumb and hand exercisers.

A purpose of the invention is to provide a simple and easily handled pistol grip exerciser for exercising the thumb, individual fingers, the fingers in unison, or the entire hand.

A further purpose is to provide an exerciser having a dial which indicates the force being applied by the fingers, thumb, or hand.

A further purpose is to provide an exerciser which fits in the hand in a natural yand comfortable grip.

A Kfurther purpose is to use a plurality of individual springs in a hand exerciser.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claim.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate a few only of the numerous embodiments in which my invention may appear, selecting the forms shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the exerciser of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is ra front elevation of the exerciser of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE L2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view from FIG- URE 3 showing the rack and pinion arrangement.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken on line 6 6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section taken on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary enlarged View of FIGURE 1 showing the detail of the dial area.

FIGURES 9 and 10 are simplified views similar to FIGURE 1 showing two uses of the device.

FIGURE 9 shows the hand and thumb being exercised.

FIGURE 10 shows the middle finger being exercised.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring t0 the drawings:

In the prior art, exercisers of the hands and fingers have usually been of an awkward and uncomfortable form, with no provision for exercising individual fingers or the thumb. One such form of exerciser was of V-shape with handles on the legs of the V.

The present invention provides a device with a comfortable and easy fit 'for the hand so that exercise is performed in a natural manner. Individual fingers or the thumb can be conveniently exercised. In addition, the amount of force applied by the hand, thumb or fingers is indicated on a dial of the exerciser.

In accordance with the present invention, a housing has a curved portion 21 and a straight portion 22. The housing is of U cross section at portions 21 and 22 and has an integral cylindrical portion 23. A grip 24 is pivoted at 25 in housing 20 on pivot pin 261. Grip 24 has end extensions 26 and 28 and finger receiving recesses 27. Housing 20 is comprised of two sections to facilitate assembly, the sections being held together by suitable bolts or the like 201.

A plunger 30 has a curved top 31 and an inner rod 32 which extends down through plunger walls 33 and into cylinder 23. A helical compression spring 34 engages the 3,216,259 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 head 31 and a shoulder portion 35 on the cylinder 23. A disc flange 36 integral with rod 32 engages the shoulder 35 to hold plunger 30 in the cylinder 23. The rod 32 and plunger 30 are preferably connected as by screw 371 to facilitate assembly and changing of helical spring 34.

A rack 37 extends in elongation of rod 32 and engages pinion 38. Pinion 3S is keyed on shaft 40 which is fixed to dials 41 and 411 as best seen in FIGURE 6. Shaft 40 is journalled in supports 401 and 402 held to the housing by screws 403 and 404. Dial faces 42 and 421 have suitable markings 43 which indicate the extent of depression of plunger 31 into cylinder 23. Suitable covers 39 are placed over the dial faces by screwing or the like to provide access to the dials.

Grip 24 is -connected to racks 44 and 441 by pivot pin 45 which engage pinions 46 and 461 which rotate on shaft 47. Shaft 47 mounts dials 48 and 481 which indicate on dial faces 42 and 421 increments as set forth on scale 50. An abutment 51 holds racks 44 and 441 into engagement with pinions 46 and 461. The shafts 40 and 47 extend suitably in lboth transverse directions so that dial faces are placed -on both sides of the housing. This enables the operator or exerciser to read the extent of his force -application on either face.

The grip 24 has spring receiving sockets 52 which receive helical springs 53 which are seated over pin abutments 54 in housing 20, as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 7. Helical springs may be of any desired strength and are readily interchangeable.

Rack 37 is held in engagement with pinion 38 by retaining abutment 55. The abutment 55 extends from the base of the U on the inner surface of the housing and has a stop 56 which engages disc 36 to prevent excess movement of plunger 31.

A guide 57 pivoted on shaft 571 is of arcuate shape and has a longitudinal groove 58 which receives an abutment 60 fixed on the grip. Spring 572 biases guide 57 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3. A fiange 61 prevents the abutment 60 from leaving the groove 5S of the retaining strip 57. The purpose of the retaining strip 57 and abutment 60 is to limit the `outward movement of the grip 24 with respect to the housing 20 under the bias of helical springs 53.

In operation, the individual places his hand around the grip 24 so that the fingers engage the finger recesses 27 as shown in FIGURE 9. In one form, the thumb may be wrapped completely around the housing to rest adjacent to the fingers, or the thumb may be placed upon the plunger 30. In this position, the entire hand may be exercised by closing the fingers and hand about the housing 20 and grip 24 to force the grip 24 into the housing against the spring bias. The amount of force exerted by the fingers and hand is indicated on the dial face by dial 48 or 481 and the index 50. The thumb may be simultaneously exercised by forcing plunger 20 into the cylinder 23 against the spring bias as shown in FIGURE 9 yand the amount of lforce exerted by the thumb observed by viewing dial 41 on index 43. Of course, the thumb can be exercised alone as indicated in the manner shown in FIGURE 9 without exerting force against grip 24.

The fingers maybe individually exercised 'in the manner shown in FIGURE l0 wherein the housing and grip are placed in the palm of one hand and individual fingers are exercised by depressing plunger 30. The abutment 26 can be suitably placed in the notch formed by the thumb and the forefinger as shown in FIGURE 10.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claim. t

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a portable therapeutic hand and finger exerciser: a housing having a U-shaped cross section and spring receiving abutments within the cross section, said housing being adapted to fit in the palm of one hand and having a plunger Well at one end; a grip having end extensions and linger receiving recesses pivotally mounted Within the housing cross section; spring receiving sockets in the grip; a plurality of helical compression springs mounted respectively between the abutments in the housing and the sockets in the grip; said helical springs biasing the grip away from the housing, retaining means on the grip and housing for limiting the outward movement of the grip with respect to the housing; a thumb plunger within the plunger well; spring means for biasing the plunger outwardly in the Well; retaining means on the plunger and well for limiting the outward movement of the plunger in the well; indicator means for indicating the compressive force applied to the grip and the vhousing including a rack pivotally mounted on said grip in engagement with a pinion rotatably journalled in said housing; and indicator means for indicating the amount of compressive force applied to the thumb plunger; the said grip and the said plunger being mounted in sufficiently close proximity so that Athe fingers and thumb of one hand can manipulate the grip and plunger simultaneously.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 344,095 6/86 Fowler 73-381 374,003 ll/ 87 Reiners 73-381 468,154 l2/92 McClure 73-381 514,281 2/94 Schaibly et al 73-381 X RICHARD C. QUEISSER, Primary Examiner.

DAVID SCHONBERG, Examiner. 

